Hot box arrester



Aug- 15, 1933- 1 A. M. KRAUSE ET AL v1,922,306

I A HOT BOX ARRESTER Filed OC. l5, 1931 Patented Aug. 15, 1933 HOT BOXARRESTER Arthur M. Krause and Jesse J. Rounds, Albany, N. Y., assignorsof one-fifth to George W. Ditmore, `one-fifth to Joseph G. Moore, andone-fifth to Arthur Bibb, Albany, N. Y.

Application October 15, 1931. Serial No. 569,015

Claims. (Cl.-4 308-87) This invention relates to emergency cooling andlubricating devices for journal box construcions.

Modern journal box constructions for railway 5 rolling stock have beenperfected by constant study and re-design to a high degree ofefficiency.

Nevertheless the delay, loss of material,` and added expense which therailroads incur yearly,

by reason of the fact that overheated journal lo bearings frequentlyoccur, are still items of much concern to railroad operators, no journalbox having as yet been perfected which is wholly free from the danger ofunexpected overheating, and

this despite constant careful inspection and periodic replacement of thelubricant and packing.

In practically all types of modern journal box constructions, the weightof the superimposed load is transmitted from the journal box Aitself tothe end of the associated axle through means positioned above the axleand includinga bearing,.generally `semi-cylindrical in shape. While thebearing is fabricated of some suitable antiiriction metal, the axles arealways of steel, and

in the evcntthat dust and dirt penetrate into the axle box in sufficientquantities or in the event that the lubricant supply fails Wholly orparv tially, or for both reasons, the coeicient of fric- -tion betweenthe rotating axle and its bearing may be raised with the result thatlarge quantit-lo ties of heat are generated, thus causing the wellknownhot box. A hot-box on a single car requires .stoppage of an entire trainand generally the removal of the car having the hot box to the nearestsiding, thus involving not only delay of 36 ',the train but alsoconsiderable expense in repairing or replacing defective parts andrepaclring the box. i

it has heretofore'been suggested that emergency lubricating devicesmight be used in combination with journal box constructions whereby,when the temperature of the journal box exceeded a predetermined degree,a reserve body of lubri-n cant or cooling fluid or both would bedischarged into the journal box, thus cooling thebearing and preventingthe development of excessive and dangerous temperatures. Despite suchprior suggestions, however, such appliances have not come into commonuse, largely by reason of the fact that extensive modifications ofexisting journal boxes would have been required. y

In; accordance with the present invention, such an emergency cooling andlubricating means is provided which may be applied to any standardjournal box construction without'modication or arrangement of any of theparts thereofi- The described in detail is appliance can be incorporatedin journal boxes under constructionV at the point of manufacture ofrailway rolling stock or 'may be applied easily and conveniently torolling stock now in use. The invention is of great simplicity andeminently practical, providing a safety means which is not onlyinexpensive in its first cost but which may be applied at minimum cost.The various component elements of the invention may be changed ormodified in adapting the same to journal box constructions which vary indetails of arrangement of their essential parts, and that form which isillustrated in theaccompanying drawing and which will be hereinafter setforth by way of example only. y

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a transverse section through a journal boxconstruction showing the emergency lubricating and cooling means appliedthereto;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure l, various parts of thejournal box havingv been omitted, however, in order that the details ofthe emergency lubricating device might be more clearly perceived; and

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2. The journal boxconstruction to which the invention is applied comprises essentially thebox itself indicated by the numeral lo, the journal wedge 1l located inthe upper portion ofthe box spaced from the side walls and bottomthereof, a

considerable space within the box which lies below the axle beingprovided for the reception of packing material, such as waste; and a.suitable lubricant.

ico

Normally the cylindrical surface of the rotat V cylindrical surface ofthe axle and the cylindrical surface of the bearing 12, however, thecoefcient of friction between thesemembers is increased, and anexcessive heating will follow unless precautions are taken, as by therepacking ofthe box or introduction thereinto of a suitable'cooling andlubricating composition. The same excessive heating will occur, as hasalready been pointed out, in the event that the supply of lubricant inthe bottom of the box should fail for any reason.

. The automatically operating emergency lubricating and cooling meanswhich we provide comprises essentially two containers, indicated at 14,14, positioned on opposite sides of the axle and in the spaces betweenthe axle andthe side walls of the journal box. These containers arerectangular in transverse section, are relatively elongated so as toextend substantially from one end to the other of the axle box, and areprovided with lubricant inlet or charging porta and lubricant dischargeports. Fluid is introduced into these receptacles or containers throughapertures in their top walls normally closed by caps 15, and eachcontainer has a plurality of lubricant discharge ports formed in itsinner side wall adjacent the bottom thereof, these ports being indicatedat 16, 16. With the containers in position, the discharge ports 16V, arelocated closely adjacent the surface of the axle so that lubricant whichescapes therefrom will pass onto such surface prior to passingdownwardly into the body of waste or packing material, indicated at 17.

Each of the ports 1G is closed by a fusible substance which will melt ata predetermined temperature, and associated with each port also is ascreen device 18, which may conveniently be a wire mesh screen, for thepurpose of supporting the fusible substance in position u ntil suchtemperature is actually realized and the substance liquees. Eachcontainer also'is provided with a signal by means of Awhich an inspectormay observe the level of liquid therein upon opening the usual journalbox lid. The signal comprises essentially a iloat indicated at 19 and arod 20, the lower end of which is secured to the float and the upper endof which projects above the cap 15 so as to be visible at all times. Bythe position of the upper end of the rod 20, an inspector may instantlyform an accurate opinion as to the level of the liquid in the associatedcontainer.

The containers are suspended in the positions in which they are shown inFigure 1 by straps, the ends of which are secured to the walls of thecontainers, respectively, and the mid-portions of which pass overbearing 12 or intermediate the bearing 12 and the wedge 11 and areclampingly engaged between these last mentioned members. There may betwo of these straps 21 or more if desired, and in the event that onlytwo are employed, they are preferably arranged parallel to each otherand at the ends of the containers, as shown in the drawing.

We preferably connect the mid-points of the straps by a flat connectingpiece or member 22 which is substantially co-extensive in area with theupper horizontal surface of bearing l2 so that this member transmitspractically al1 of the load imposed on the axle from the wedge 11 to thebearing 12. The straps and connecting member 22 are preferably formed ofone piece of sheet metal stamped to the required shape, and the metalitself may have a considerable degree of ductility so that the strapsmay be deformed or bent as necessary in ladapting the emergency deviceto journal box constructions in which the wedge and bearing members varyslightly in details of construction and dimension. The straps 21 arelikewise provided, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, withbent-over triangular flanges or ears 23, the inner edges of whichcontact with the vertical side faces of bearings 12 in order that thecontainers 14 may be suspended laterally of the bearing and axle, asshown in the drawing.

Each container14 is also provided, at the bottom thereof, with a member24 having a plurality of projecting portions or teeth 24 extendingtoward the adjacent surface of the axle 13. The ends' of these teeth arein contact with the cylindrical surface of the axle, and they areintended to intercept and prevent the upward movement of particles ofwaste which tend to cling to the surface of the axle and which might, ifnot prevented from doing so, `clog up the ports 16 and prevent theescape of the fluid in the containers even when the temperature hasrisen to such a degree that the fusible plugs have been melted.Preferably the member 24 ,is made of the same material as is bearing 12.

In the normal operation of the journal box construction just described,the lubricating or cooling fluid in the containers 14 is not used andmay remain in these containers indefinitely.

Should a hot box occur, however, and the temperature rise to the dangerpoint, the plugs in apertures 16 will be fused and the liquid dischargedonto the axle and into the lubricating space ofthe journal box. Thiswill at least temporarily prevent dangerous over-.heating and willenable the car with which the journal box is used to proceed to the nextpoint of inspection. An. inspector, upon looking into the journal boxand perceiving the signaling devices to indicate the absence of fluid inthe containers 14, will mimediately conclude that the journal box has atone timebeen overheated and can take appropriate steps to repack thesame and recharge the emer-l, gency lubricating means provided.

The details of construction of the various ele'- ments of the inventionmay be modified considerably in adapting the same to various types ofjournal boxes. We preferably securey the containers to the strap ends byspot-welding, but other means may be chosen. Welikewise prefer,

to spot-weld the members 24 to thebottoms .of

the containers. v

Having thus described the invention, what, is

claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:- A

1. A journal box construction comprising a journal box into which theend of a rotatable axle extends, a bearing member and journal wedgeabovev the axle, the bearing member contacting with the axle and thejournal wedge with the top of the box, a container positioned laterallyof the axle and having means to release fluid into the box when thetemperature therein exceeds a predetermined degree, and means supportingsaid container, said means extending be-v therein exceeds apredetermined degree,

and means for supporting the container in a position closely adjacentthe axle and between the axle and the side wall of the journal box, saidmeans including a member engaging the container and "extending betweenthe journal wedge and bearing member and being clamped therebetween.

3. A journal box construction comprising the axle, journal box, bearing,and wedge, the box having a chamber beneath the axle for the receptionof lubricating material, in combination with an emergency fluidreceptacle formed separately from the bearing and wedge and containedwithin the journal box, said receptacle having means for permitting thedischarge of its contained fluid when the temperature within the boxexceeds a predetermined degree, and means extending between the axle andtop of the journal box and clampingly engaged by the wedge forsuspending the said receptacle within the box.

4. An larticle of manufacture comprising a iiuid container having meansto discharge the liquid therefrom when the temperature of thesurrounding space reaches a'predetermined degree, and means whereby thecontainer may be suspended within a journal box, said means cornprisinga hat; metallic strap attached to the re- 'ceptacle and adapted to beplaced between and clampingly engaged by the bearing and wedge of ajournal box construction.

5. An article of manufacture .comprising two separately formed fluidcontainers, each provided with means to effect the discharge of liquidtherefrom when the temperature of the surrounding space reaches apredetermined degree, and

means connecting the containers whereby theym may be suspended in ajournal box construction on` opposite sides of the axle by engagement`of said means with parts of said journal box construction located abovethe axle, said containers Iing also held by said means against movementrelatively to each other and to the axle,

when applied to a journal box.

y 6. An article of manufacture ccmprising'two separately formed fluidcontainers, each provided with means to eilect the discharge of liquidtherefrom when the temperature ofthe surrounding space reaches -apredetermined degree,

and means connecting the containers wherebyseparately formedvuidcontainers, each providvwhich are secured respectively to the said con-.they may be suspended in a journal box coned with means to effect thedischarge of liquid therefrom when the temperature of the surroundingspace reaches a predetermined degree, and means connecting thecontainers whereby they may be suspended in a journal box constructionon opposite sides of the axle by engagement of said means with parts ofsaid journal box construction located above the axle, said meansincluding parallel metallic straps, the ends of tainers, and a crossmember integral with and connecting the said straps at the mid-pointsthereof. n n f 8. An article of manufacture comprising two separatelyformed fluid containers, each'provlded with means to effect thedischarge of liquid therefrom when the temperature of the surroundingspace reaches a predetermined degree, and means connecting thecontainers whereby v d5 struction on opposite sides of the axle byengagement of said means with parts. of said journal box constructionlocated above the axle, said means including a metallic strap, the endsof which are secured respectively to the-said containers, the straphaving projections normal thereto intermediate the containers forengagement with the vertical side wall of an axle bearing, for thepurpose set forth.

9. In a journal box construction, the combination with the journal box;axle, bearing, and wedge, of a body of lubricant-containing-waste or thelike in the lower portion vof the journal box, the upper surface ofwhich is in contact with the axle, and an emergency fluid receptaclepositioned in the box laterally of the axle and above the upper surfaceof the4 body of waste, said receptacle having liquid sealing means whichfuses when the temperature of the axle becomes abnormal and also havingmetallic means to constantly contact with the, cylindrical surface ofthe axle.

10. In a journal box constructionfthe combination with the journal box,axle; bearing, and wedge, of a 4body of lubricant-containing waste 120or the like in the lower portion of the journal box, the upper surfaceof which is in contact with the axle, and an emergency fluid receptaclepositioned in the box ylaterally of the axle and above the upper surfaceof the body of waste, said receptacle having liquid sealing means whichfuses when the temperature of the axle becomes abnormal and also havinga series of spaced metallic members or teeth laterally projecting towardand in constant contact with the axle.

ARTHUR M. KRAUSE. @ESSE J. ROUNDS.

